Keyboard attachment for violins



G. A. G. EKMAN.

KEYBOARD ATTACHMENT FOR VIOLINS..

APPLICATION FILED IVAII. Il. |1911.

'1`,318,316. Patented oca 7,1919.

3 sains-sum a.

N UU NGI N um G INvENTm; by

- 'ml sown-IA mnodnm co.. wnuma'mu, n. c.

G. A. G. EKMAN.

KEYBOARD ATTACHMENT FOR VIOLINS.

APPLICATION FILED um. u. 19|?.

1,318,316. Patented om. 7,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. INVENTUV A. G. EKMAN. KEYBOARD ATTACHMENT FOR VIOLINS..

Patented Oct. 7, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

l INVENJml/ 46 11 n/wm Q1 byMM/GM ATryS- PATENT oEEioE.

GUNNAR A. e, EKMAN, or WINGHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

KEYBOARD ATTACHMENTFGR viotiivs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 7, 1919.

Application led January 11, 1917. Serial No. 141,882.

To all whom t may concern y Be it known that I, GUNNAR A. G. EKMAN, citizen of the United States, residing at lVinchester, county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a een tain new and useful Improvement in Keyboard Attachments for Violins, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

rlhe inif'ention relates to improvements in key board attachments for lingering the violin. The keys which are similar to those of the piano, are connected with intermediate levers which operate stops .that depress the strings. The strings are vibrated by drawing the lbow over them in the usual manner of playing a violin.' The key board. attachment is constructed separate from the violin so that any preferred violin may be inserted and used with the attachment and fingered by means of the key board.

One object of the present invention is to locate the keys at the tail-pin end of the violin, and under the portion of the instrument where the strings are fastened to the tail piece, the key board` extending toward the left and in a line parallel to the face of the violin bridge, that is, the key board is at right angles to the length of the violin.

In former violin key board attachments of this type which require one hand to `finger the keys while the other hand draws the bow, the key board is located either over or under the neck and along that side of the violin where the finger board is placed. In such locations, the hands of the performer are not in 'convenient position relative to each other, as the hand which manipulates the keys has to travelin directions other than parallel to the hand which draws the bow. Vith the location of thekey board according -to my present invention `the hands of the performer are in a more convenient position relative to eachother, and the hand which runs over the keys is permitted to travel in a line that is parallel to the direction of the hand which draws the bow across the strings. i y

The perfoijmerhas also the advantage vof drawing theA bow more in a line that is parallel to the front of his body, which is the accepted method of bowing a non-mechanical violin, and which method gives greater facility vin bowing.

The use of a single key for double stopping by fingering two `or more strings simultaneously has been known in this class of inventions but when so used heretofore it has been generally used to finger two or more strings at once at points of rest opposite each other, that is, at points which `lie in an 'imaginary line drawn at right angles to the long center line on the finger hoard. 'One object of the present invention is to provide a device in which the operation o a single key will linger two strings at points that are not opposite each other, that is these points are in a line which is oblique to the longitudinal median line of the finger board, so that the same keys may 4be employed for the last high notes of a string of lower pitch as for the first notes of a string tuned at a higher pitch,

The application of these double stopping keys which play notes of the same pitch on two. strings of a different pitch is found in certain musical phrases, such as trills, turns and rapid grace notes which must be played on one string rather than played back and forth betweentwo strings. Owing to the rapidity `of the movement required, it is impossible, or at least exceedinglyl difficult, to bow quickly enough from one string to another, hut in a device constructed according to my invention the player will have the option of playing these notes on either one of the strings which best suits his convenience.

In carrying out the invention, the key board and its connecting mechanism are I placed in a horizontal position on a framed support or table. The violin is supported above the key board by a brace or bracket at its neck and tail end.

To give simplicity to the exposition of the invention the violin which is shown in the accompanying drawingseniploys only three strings to give the notes't-hroughout the compass 'of the violin.` The d string being omitted, the pitch interval between the g and It strings is a major ninth'and the interval between the a and e strings is a perfect fifth. .Two, or as many strings as may be bowed properly,` may however be employed and the keys and connecting mechanism will be adapted accordingly.

The invention will be fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the novel features thereof will be pointed out and clearly deined in the claims at the close of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a violin and the keyed attachment embodyingthe invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, and partly broken away, showing one of the keys and its connection with the support and also showing the joint connection with one of the upright connecting rods.

Fig. 4l is a side elevation showing one of the stop levers'and the stop connected therewith and the guides for the stop.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the mechanism for controlling two of the stops or fingers by one key.

Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the bracket which supports the violin and its arrangement with relation to the key board and the violin.

Fig'. 8 is a plan view showing a modified form of stop levers.

Referring now to the drawings, V represents the body of the violin which is shown as provided with three strings, namely, the g, a and e strings. The violin is supported upon a table or other suitable support by suitable brackets M at the end of the body and at the neck in any suitable way so as not to interfere with the proper vibration of the instrument.

Supported on the said frame work or table is a key board in which are mounted a se ies of keys arranged after the manner of' the key board of a piano or organ. The bracket M is bent under the back of the violin and is forked to form legs 81 which extend down between the keys and rest on the table and are secured to the table at a distance inward from the key board for the purpose of providing a firm support for the violin and to give the performer access to those keys which are located under the back of the violin.

As there are several octaves shown on the key board the letters of the lowest octave are marked G1, etc., those of the second octave G2, etc., and so on through the other octaves. Fach key also has marked on it the letter designating the string which is adapted to be engaged by the stop actuated by the particular key.

The first white key l is a blind key and merely represents the open or non-stopped g string. The first black key, designated 2, is fulcrumed intermediate its ends on fulcrum 611, (see Fig. 8) the center of the fulcrum being in the line 6l see Fig. l) and at its rear end said key is connected by a universal joint with the lower end of' a vertical connecting rod 2n. The upper end of said connecting rod 2a is connected by a universal joint with one end of a horizontal lever 2b fulcrumed at 621, the center or' the fulcrum being in the line G2. The other end of said lever 2b carries a downwardly depending stop finger 2 whose lower end has a head 2d which is adapted to engage the string g. By depressing the i'ront portion of the said key'2, its rear end will be raised, thereby lifting the vertical connect ing rod 2a, thus raising the left hand end of the horizontal lever 2b as vicwel in Fig. 2 and depressing the other end of said lever 2b, causing the stop Q to press the string g. llfhen the downward pressure of the finger on the front part of key 2 is released, the rear end oit' said key will descend and the stop 2C will be raised from the string g.

Each one of the keys from 2 up to l5 is connected at its end with a vertical connecting rod similar to the connecting rod 2a, and each one of said vertical connecting rods is pivotally connected with a horizontal lever iulcrumed intermediate its ends and carrying at its other end a stop finger similar to the stop 2 which is adapted to engage the string g, all at certain points. In Fig. 2 some of the vertical connecting rods of this series are shown broken away for the sake of avoiding confusion. The vertical connecting rods and the horizontal levers, however, are shown in plan view in Fig. l. The keys in this series 2 to l5, successively decrease in length, the centers of the iiulcrums of' these keys being in line with each other along the line 6l, which shows that the fulcrum centers are in a line oblique to the line of direction of said keys. It is not to be understood that the iiulcruin of any one key is oblique to the axis of the key, the oblique line G1 being' merely an imaginary line showing the relation of the centers of the fulcrums to each other. Each tulcruin, however, in itself is at right angles to the longitudinal` axis of its key. rl`he tulcrums are thus disposed because of the successive decrease in length of the keys, the longest. being the first one and the shortest being the last one in the series.

The last of the vertical connecting rods of what I have termed the first series of keys is designated l5, and the horizontal lever which is connected with the upper end of said vertical rod l5 is indicated by 15".V

lt is to be noted that the said horizontal levers 2b to l5" inclusive are of successively decreasing length. These horizontal levers 2b to l5" inclusive are each fulcrumcd intermediate their ends, the fulcrum for lever 2b being designated 69.1 (see Fig. et) and the other levers having similar fulcrunis. Each indi\.'i ;lual fuicrum at right angles to the fl O longitudinal axis of the lever, but the centers of the fulcruins are all in a line which is oblique to the longitudinal axis of the several levers, as indicated by the oblique dotted line 62.

Each one of these levers 2b to 15b inclu- .sive carries at its extreme end a downwardly depending finger or stop, siinilar to the stop finger 2D. The ends of the levers which carry the stops are all in line with each other so that the stops all depress the sanie string g but at different points.

rlhe key 16 is the first of a new series of keys of varying lengths, said new series comprising keys 16 to 22, inclusive, the key 16 being of the saine length as key 2 and each successive key up to 22 being of decreasing length. The keys of this set are connected at their rear ends by a universal joint with the lower end of vertical connecting rods 16 to 22 inclusive, and at the upper end of said vertical rods there are pivotally connected respectively the horizontal stop levers 16b to 22h, inclusive. Each of said stop levers 16b to 22", inclusive, car'- ries a depending stop, such for instance as 16c shown in connection with stop lever 16", the lower ends of said stops being adapted to press the striii a..

The fulcruins o? the keys 16 to 22 inclusive, are so arranged thatv the centers of soine are in one straight oblique line and the centers of the others in another line. The first two keys of this series, nainely, 16 and 17, have their `fulcruins so located that their centers are in the oblique line 63 and the fulcruins of the keys 18 to 22, inclusive,

have their centers in the oblique line 64.

(See Fig. 1).

The first two keys of said second series, nainely keys 16 and 17, are connected at their rear ends with vertical connecting roc s 16L and 17 which are respectively connected with the horizontal stop levers 16b and'17", carrying stops which are adapted to engage stringa. Said keys 16 and 17 are each pivotally connected at a point intermediate their fulcruins and their rear ends, with a second vertical. connecting rod, namely 16e and 17, respectively. The upper ends of said vertical rods 16e and 17e are connected respectively with the horizontal stop levers 16f and 17 f which carry at their right hand ends the stops which are respectively adapted to engage with the string g. Thus each of the two keys 16 and 17 is adapted to actuate two stop levers and stops simultaneously, one of the said stops which is connected with said keys 16 and 17 pressing the string f/ and the other stop, which is connected with the same key, pressing the string a.. The

levers are so adjustedY that when,` for inw stance, the key 16 is depressed,rand the two stops actuated thereby engage the strings g and a, said strings will give forth notes of the saine pitch. The stop levers 161D to 22-b inclusive have fulcruins interinediate their ends, the centers of' the fulcruins being` in the line 65. (See Fig. 1.) The said interniediate fulcruin for lever 16b is shown in Fig. 2. The fulcruins for the other levers are siniilar.

The said second stop levers 16f and 17 f are fulcrun'ied intermedia-te their ends, the `centers of the fulcruins being in the line 62, see Fig. 1. A

It will be noted froni Fig. 2 that the vertical connecting rods 16, etc., connected with the second series of key levers extend up higher than the vertical connecting rods 2, etc., of the first series, thus bringing the horizontal stop levers 16h, etc., of the second series to a higher elevation than the stop levers 2b, etc., of the first series. This is done for convenience and coinpactness and also in order that the second series of stop levers may be directly over the rst series of stop levers, the vertical connecting rods of the second series extending up between or through the several stop levers of the first series.

The key 23 is the first of still another set of keys which includes 23 to 33, the lever 23 being of the saine length as key lever 2, and each successive key up to 33 being of decreasing length. The keys of this set are connected at their rear ends by a universal joint with the lower end of vertical connecting rods 23 to 33, and at the upper ends of said vertical rods there are pivotally connected respectively the horizontal stop levers 23b to 33". Each of said stop levers 23b to 33b carries a stop finger 23C toi-53c respectively, which is adapted to engage string c. The vertical rods 23 to 33 extend up higher than the vertical rods 16 to 22, and the horizontal stop levers 23 to 33b are in a correspondingly liigher plane than the stop levers 16b to 22".

The fulcrunis of the keys 2'3 to inclu-- sive, arev in two groups, the fulcruins yof the keys 23 to 26, inclusive, having their centers in the oblique line 66 and the centers of the fulcruins of the keys 27 to 33, inclusive, being in the line 67. The stop levers` 23b to 33, inclusive, have their fulcruins 611 in the line 68; These fulcruins are all siini- .lar tothe fulcruin- 661 of lever 23b shown in Fig. y2.

`lhe-iirst four keys of the said third series, nainely 23 to 26, are not only connected at their rear ends with vertical connecting'rods 23, etc., which in turn are connected with stop levers 2'3", etc., which actu ate the stops n for string c, but said keys 23 to 26, inclusive,

are each pivotally connected at a point interH mediate the fulcruin and their rear end vertical connections with a secondvertical connecting rod, namely 23e to 26e respectively, and the' upper ents of said vertical. rods 23 to 26e, inclusive, are respectively connected with horizontal stop levers 9.3i to 262 respectively, which carry stops 23g, etc., adapted to engage with the string e, see F ig. 6. The said second stop levers Qf to '26 are iiulcrumed intermediate their ends, the centers of the fulcrunis being in the line 65.

The stops actuated by the stop levers 231 to 33, inclusive, are all adapted to press the string c.

|Ihe key 34 is the lirst of still another set of keys which includes 34 to 49 inclusive. all of which actuate connecting mechanism to operate a series of stops to engage the string e but at different `points on the string from the points engaged by the levers :2,3 to 33 inclusive. yThe connecting mechanism for operating these stop levers is arranged somewhat diiferently from the stop levers previously described, for the purpose of compactness. 'Ihe said keys 34 to 49 inclusive are all of the same length, being shorter than the keys previously described, and are fulcrumed at their rear ends along the line 69, their fulcrums all being in a line at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the key levers.

Extending down from the under side of' each key 34 to 49 is a stud, the studs for keys 34 and 49 being indicated by 34e and 49C. Said studs are pivotally connected as indicated at 34f and 49f7 with obliquely extending horizontal levers 34g to 49g. Said obliquely eX- tending levers have fulcrums whose centers are along the line 70. Said levers extend ol'l obliquely to the right hand side of the violin but on a lower level. The outer ends of said oblique leversl are connected by a universal joint with the lower ends et vertical connecting` rods 34a to 49, respectively, the upper ends of said vertical rods being connected by a universal joint with horizontal stop levers 34 to 49", which extend obliquely back over the top of the violin. Said levers have fulcrums whose centers are in the line 7l, the inner ends of said levers 34h, etc., having connected therewith depending stops 34c to 49. It will be evident that by depressing the linger end of the keys the stops will be caused to press the string e.

In Fig. 8 is shown a modified form of oblique key and lever connections to take the lplace of the oblique levers and connections already described with relation to the keys 34 to 49 inclusive. In this modification which is shown in detail in connection with three keys designated as 47, 48 and 49, said keys are fulcrumed in the line 72 and have obliquely bent rearwardly extending arms 73, 74 and 75 which at their rear ends are connected by a universal joint with vertical connecting rods 47a, 48;L and 49a, the upper ends of which are pivotally connected with stop levers 47D, 48b and 49b :tulcrumed in the line 71 and carrying stops at their inner ends. By this torm of construction the compactness secured by the obliqucly extending lever is secured and the number of elements is reduced.

lVhat I claim is:

l. In combination with a violin or similar instrument, a lingering attachment consisting oi a piano key board, and mechanism :for fingering the strings, the key board and the back ot' the violin being located in parallel horizontal planes, the top of the violin facing upward, the key board extending under the back of the violin and at that section of the violin where the strings are fastened to the tail piece.

2. In combination with a violin or similar instrument, a piano key board, and mechanism tor lingering the strings, the key board and the back of the violin lying in separate planes, the top ont the violin facing upward, the key board extending toward the lett and at right angles to the length of the violin, under the back ot the violin at that section of the violin where the strings are fastened to the tail piece.

3. In combination with a violin or similar instrument, a key board provided with a series of keys arranged a't'ter the manner of a piano key board, a series of stops located to press the strings o'lE the instrument, and intermediate mechanism. whereby said stops are respectively actuated by the keys, said key board being located at a lower level than the violin, the top of the violin facing upward, some of the keys extending under the back oit the violin at that section of the violin where the strings are fastened to the tail piece.

4. In combination with a violin or similar instrument, a key board provided with a plurality of keys, a plurality of stops located to depress the strings of the instrument, mechanism whereby the operation of the respective keys will actuate said stops respectively, and a bracket which supports one end ot the violin, said bracket having one end formed with branches, said branches being bent under the violin and extending down between the keys at points some distance in from the outer ends ot' the keys.

5. In combination with a violin or similar instrument, a key board, a plurality of stops located to engage the strings et the instrument at diilerent points, intermediate vneehanism whereby. the operation oi the respective keys will actuate said stops respectively, and a bracket fastened at its upper end to the tail pin end oit the violin, the lower end of the bracket being forked, the branches oit the fork extending down between the keys at peints some distance in `from the cuter end oit the keys, said bracket being so constructed that the key board and the back of the violin are at separate levels, some of the keys extending under the back of the violink at that section ot the violin where the strings are fastened to the tail piece.

G. In combination with a violin or simi ilar musical instrument, a key board, a plurality of keys attached thereto, a plurality of stops and lever connections between said stops and said keys whereby the operation of the keys respectivelywill actuate said stops to engage the strings, the key board and the back of the violin being located in separate planes, the top o'f the, violin Yfacing upward, and the keyboard extending at piece.

right angles to the length of VtheJ violin and underthe backof the violin at `that section where the 'strings are Vfastened to the tail 7. In Vcombination ywith a violin or similar musical instrument, a key board, a plurality ot' stops so positioned as to be adaptedto engage with thestrings Vof the violin, rand lever connections between said stops and said keys whereby the operation oi ,the keys respectively will actuate said stops to engage the strings, the key board and the back of the violin being located in separate planes, the top of the violin facing upward, and the key board extending` toward the lett of: the violin, under the back of the violin `at that section where the strings are tastened to the tail piece, so that one hand is permitted to manipulate the keys which-lie under the violin, while the other hand may draw the bow over the strings, both hands traveling in a parallel position to each other.

8. In combination with a violin or. similar musical instrument, a key board, the key board and the back of the violin being in separate planes, the key board extending to the left of the violin and under that section of the violin where the strings are fastened to the tail piece,'said keys being t'ulcrumed intermediate their ends, vertical connecting rods having flexible connection at their lower ends with said respective keys, and stop levers ulcrumed intermediate their ends and having at one end flexible connection with the upper ends or" said vertical connecting rods, the other ends of said stop levers each carrying a stop, all so constructed and arranged that by operation of one of the said keys, one of said stops will be brought into engagement with one of said strings; i

9.111 combination with a violin or similar instrument, a key board having` a plurality of keys, said key board extending under that section ot the violin where the strings areV fastened to the tail piece, said keys being fnlcrumed intermediate their ends, vertical connecting rods having ltickible connection at their lower ends with said keys, stops ulcrumed yintermediate their' connectingA rods, all so constructed `and larkeys, one of said stops will be brought into engagement with one ot said strings, a sec-- ond set of stops connected with someo said keys, and means whereby the operation ot one of said keys which has connection with twoY ofthe stops, will actuate both of said stops simultaneously, said two stops being so arranged with relation to each other that one of them will engage one of the strings, while the' other stop,` at the same time, will engage anotherV one of the strings at a dit-` terent distance from the bridge; i

L10. 'In combination with a violin `or similaiwinstrumennfa key board, al key having two vertical connecting rodsy extending upward therefrom, stop' levers connected respectively tothe upper ends of said rods and carrying stops located toengage dilierent strings'at different distances from the bridge.` `l .y

11. In combination with a violin or simg ilar instrument, 'a series of keys arrangedv with relation to each other after the manner otra key board, a series ot movable stops located to depress the strings of the instrument, means whereby said keys actuate said stops, a second series of stops to depressthe strings, and intermediate mechanism connecting the said second set of stops with some of the keys which actuate the first set of stops whereby whenever one of said doubly connected keys is operated it will actuate one stop of each set to depress two strings at different distances from the bridge. n 4

12. In combination with a violin or other similar instrument, a piano key board, a

series of movable stops, mechanism whereby the operation of any one of said keys will cause one of said stops to depress one of said strings, a second series of stops, mechanism connecting the stops of said second set with some of the keys which actuate the stops of the first set whereby whenever one of said doubly connected keys is actuated two stops one from each set will depress two strings `at diierent distances from the bridge whereb the notes from-both strings will be of the same pitch.

13. In combination with a violin or similar instrument, a key board, stops which are located to engage with the strings and mechanism whereby the operation of one of said keys will actuate two of said stops simultaneously to respectively engage two diierent strings at dii'ierent distances from the bridge, the last stops of the string of lower pitch having the same keys and giving the same pitch as the first stops of the string of higher pitch.

14. In combination with a violin or sim-- ilar instrument, a keyboard having a lurality of keys, said key board eXten ing iio under that section of the violin where thev strings are fastened to the tail piece, vertical connecting rods connected at the lower ends with said keys, stop levers connected with said connecting rods, some of said keys each having two sets of stop levers connected therewith and carrying stops, and means whereby the operation of one of the keys which has connection with two of the stop levers will simultaneously actuate thc stops connected with both of said levers, said two stops being so located that each will depress a different string from the other stop and at a different distance from the bridge.

15. In combination with a violin or other similar instrument, a key board having a plurality of keys extending under that portion of the violin where the strings are fas tened to the tail piece, vertical connecting rods whose lower ends are connected with said keys, stops connected with said rods so located that by operation of one of said keys one of said stops will depress one of the strings, a second set of stops connected with some of said keys, and means whereby the operation ofone of said keys which has connection with two of the stops will actuate both of said stops simultaneously, each ot said stops being' located to depress a different string and at a diiierent distance from the bridge.

16. In combination with a violin or similar instrument, a key board, a key having two vertical connecting rods eXtending upward therefrom, stop levers connected reI spectively -to the upper ends of said rods, each of said stop levers having a stop which is located to engage with a different string from that engaged by the other of said stops, the points of engagement of said stops with said strings being at different distances from the bridge.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

GUNNAR A. G. EKMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

